Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean, measuring 233 km in length and 80 km in width. It is situated 145 km South of Cuba. A montain range spans its length. Over half of the island is mote than 300 m above sea level and the highest peak lies in the Blue Mounains at a heigh of 2256 m.
Jamaica has a total population of 2.5 million (1992) and an area of 10,830 km2. One third of inhabitants live in the capital Kingston. Nearly 50 percent of the people live in the rural area; 30 percent of the working population is employed in the agricultural sector.
Tourism is the main source of foreign currency, followed by bausite and agriculture. However agriculture contributes only 9 % towards Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In Jamaica there is a rapidly expanding sector of entrpreneurs and small investors. Jamaica has a booming stock market.
In 1993 real GDP grew marginally per 1.2 percent. The sluggish growth out-turn reflected generally slower growth in most of the goods-producing and services sectors as well as contraction in the heavyly-weighted 'Manufacture' sector and 'Construction and Installation'. 'Miscellaneous Services' which includes tourism-related activities and 'Transport, Storage and Communication' were the only two sectors to register faster growth in 1993. 'Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing' was the only goods-producing sector to perform creditably growing by 8.8 percent.
Traditional agricultural export crops are sugar-cane, bananas, citrus, cocoa, coconut, coffee and pimento. Additionally tubers, vegetables, fruits and ornamental horticultures are exported. Cereals, meat and fisch products account for the bulk of imports.